In-Rack Refrigerant Pressure Control for Cold Plate Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing datacenter cooling systems face challenges in efficiently managing varying cooling requirements and preventing damage to refrigerant lines due to high pressure and flow rates, particularly in high-density computing environments.
Innovation Solution
An in-rack refrigerant distribution unit (RDU) with a pressure control system that manages pressure drops and flow rates to prevent damage, using refrigerant loops and flow controllers to stabilize pressure and reduce refrigerant pressure before expansion valves, allowing for efficient heat removal without eroding or corroding cold plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high pressure and high flow rate refrigerant is used to meet high-density cooling requirements, then cooling capacity is improved, but damage to refrigerant lines and cold plates occurs due to erosion and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
An in-rack refrigerant distribution unit (RDU) is introduced as an intermediary device between the central chiller and the cold plates. The RDU includes pressure control systems that reduce refrigerant pressure from high levels suitable for heat removal to lower levels that prevent erosion and damage to cold plates and refrigerant lines, while maintaining adequate cooling capacity through controlled pressure drops and flow rate management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts refrigerant pressure and flow rate parameters to match the actual cooling requirements of the computing equipment. Pressure control valves and flow controllers modify these parameters in real-time, allowing high pressure when high cooling capacity is needed while preventing excessive pressure that would cause damage to system components.
2Productivity
If central chillers are used to provide cooling, then cooling capability is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into modular in-rack RDUs that can be distributed throughout the datacenter rather than relying on a single centralized chiller system. Each RDU operates semi-independently to manage cooling for its local rack, reducing the complexity of centralized infrastructure while maintaining overall cooling capability through distributed modular units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The RDU effectively addresses high-density heat removal needs by stabilizing refrigerant pressure, preventing damage to plumbing, and enabling efficient cooling without the need for central chillers, suitable for edge datacenters and environments without coolant-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
causing a pressure-drop, before an expansion valve, for a liquid-phase of a refrigerant in response to a cooling requirement
Implementation Method 2
reducing refrigerant pressure before expansion valves
Implementation Method 3
enabling efficient heat removal without eroding or corroding cold plates
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cooling a datacenter are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an in-rack refrigerant distribution unit (RDU) distributes refrigerant to one or more colds plates in association with a pressure control system to enable a pressure-drop before an expansion valve for a liquid-phase of a refrigerant based in part on a pressure of a liquid-phase of a refrigerant exceeding a first threshold and based in part on a temperature associated with one or more cold plates being below a second threshold.